It's a pad that can't be beaten on security. And the view isn't bad either. This pigeon has set up home between two panes of glass in a double-glazed window in a tower block.

George Bell, 53, came home to his sixth-floor flat and thought a pigeon was stuck in his bedroom window.

As he watched, though, he saw the bird turn and look straight at him before escaping through a gap in the top of the window into the open air.

Mr Bell, who lives alone in his two bedroom-flat in the "Dunston Rocket" tower block, then left the room but when he returned he discovered the bird was back. And this time, she had built a nest and had two chicks with her.

Mr Bell, who has lived in the flat for the past seven years, said: "I have never ever seen anything like this before. I was amazed it had got in there.

"I think there is some kind of fault at the top of the window which allowed it to get in and then it must have thought it was a pretty perfect place to have some chicks. I mean, it's warm, dry and safe.

"The only thing is that it's keeping me out of the bedroom because I don't want to disturb it. I go in very quietly and I only stay for a second because I'm frightened it will fly away with the shock.

"There were two chicks to start with and now there is only one, so I assume one has died and I really do not want that to happen."

Mr Bell, who has two young sons, Liam, 10, and Callum, seven, says the bird's presence has made him very popular with his sons who, he says, say the bird is "cool".

Mr Bell said: "The boys live with their mother so when they came round they thought the bird in the window was amazing.

"Callum especially thought the nest in the window was brilliant and he really wanted to come back and see it as soon as he could."

George, who is long-term sick, said he is going to leave the birds where they are until the chick is old enough to fly the unusual nest.

And he is not worried about his window.

He said: "There is obviously something wrong with the window to allow the pigeon into the gap between the window panes so I will tell the council about it when the chick has flown away.

"I didn't mind not using the spare bedroom for the moment. If the window was removed and changed the chick might die and I couldn't live with myself."

David Hirst, a spokesman for the RSPB North East, said pigeons often nested in unusual places and the window sounded like the perfect place to hatch its chicks.

He said: "We don't often hear too much about pigeons because they are so common but we do get calls telling us about the strange places they have nested.

"It does not surprise me that one has nested here because it does sound like perfect conditions for them.

"I applaud Mr Bell for letting the bird stay there until the chick can fend for itself. At this time of year birds are best left alone because it is the time when they are fledging their young."